After weeks of teasing – and years of anticipation from fans – Rockstar Games has finally confirmed a sequel to epic western Red Dead Redemption, and delivered its first trailer.

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Unfortunately, despite those years of anticipation, it doesn't show much of what to expect from the game - or at least, nothing players and pundits alike didn't already expect. The teaser lingers on beautiful establishing shots of American wilderness, filled with abundant wildlife, before taking us briefly to a frontier town. A gruff voice tells us "when the time comes, you gotta run and don't look back", ominously adding "this is over".

There are also shots of seven riders on horseback, possibly suggesting Rockstar will be doing its own take on The Magnificent Seven, but just as likely hinting at the game's still-secret multiplayer features.

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The studio, best known for the Grand Theft Auto series, made the initial announcement of Red Dead Redemption 2on Twitter. It also confirmed a release date of autumn 2017.

The only real information available on the game so far is the brief description offered on the game's website.

"Developed by the creators of Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption, Red Dead Redemption 2 is an epic tale of life in America's unforgiving heartland. The game's vast and atmospheric world will also provide the foundation for a brand new online multiplayer experience."

The game will be released seven years after the first Red Dead Redemption, which followed former outlaw John Marston hunting down the members of his old gang across the US and Mexico.

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That game itself followed six years after Red Dead Revolver, the first in the loosely connected series. The fact the newly teased game is a directly numbered sequel could hint at closer ties to the first Redemption though, which established Marston's son, Jack, as a possible new lead.

If it is a direct sequel, the events of the first Red Dead Redemption ended in 1914, meaning the new entry could see slightly more advanced technology introduced as the series creeps closer to present day. It could also mean a plot exploring the end of the cowboy era in American history. The game's 2017 release date comes shortly after the 100th anniversary of the US entering the First World War, providing a turning point in history that would be fascinating to experience.

Take-Two Interactive – Rockstar's parent company – has also been spotted as the registrar of 'RedDead.Online', which likely relates to the "brand new online multiplayer experience" mentioned in the announcement. Rockstar has enjoyed huge success with its Grand Theft Auto Online spinoff, and it's fair to expect a similar experience will be launched alongside Red Dead Redemption 2 next year.